Global Food Week 2025 Concludes in Abu Dhabi with AED 6.6 Billion in Deals
The three-day summit of Global Food Week 2025 in Abu Dhabi has wrapped up with a record-breaking AED 6.6 billion in signed agreements across 58 deals—marking a 6.5 % increase compared to the previous edition.
Organised by ADNEC Group in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and other strategic entities, the event drew over 40,000 attendees, a 16 % rise from 2024.
Key Highlights
- The exhibition welcomed participants from more than 75 countries, with over 2,070 companies taking part and the total exhibition floor expanding by 15 % to 33,542 m².
- A dedicated “Hosted Buyers Programme” connected more than 400 pre-qualified buyers with exhibitors, enabling hundreds of bilateral meetings and facilitating large-scale procurement contracts.
- Several new industry forums and platforms were launched this year: the AgriTech Forum, the Agricultural Investment Forum, and the Alternative Proteins Initiative (PALT), all aimed at promoting innovation in food systems, sustainable agriculture and alternative-protein technologies.
- Recognising the inter-dependence of food, water and energy systems, the event emphasised integrated strategies: modern irrigation, AI-enabled farming, and water-reuse technologies were highlighted as key enablers of sustainable food security in arid regions.
Strategic Significance
By delivering strong dealflow and growth in participation, Global Food Week reinforces Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a global hub for food-security, agr-tech and sustainable supply chains. It aligns with the UAE’s broader agenda of diversifying its economy beyond oil, boosting its role in agri-innovation, and attracting foreign investment into high-tech food systems.
Looking Ahead
With AED 6.6 billion in deals already concluded, key questions remain: how many of these agreements will translate into full-scale commercial roll-out, how will technological innovation (especially in alternative proteins and AgriTech) scale in the UAE region, and how will food-supply resilience be advanced in a climate-challenged world? The new forums and initiatives introduced this year will be important to monitor in terms of real-world impact.
